Proverbs 17

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet

than a house full of feasting, with strife.^d

A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son,

and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,^e

but the Lord tests the heart.^f

A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;

a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

Whoever mocks the poor^g shows contempt for their Maker;^h

whoever gloats over disasterⁱ will not go unpunished.^j

Children’s children^k are a crown to the aged,

and parents are the pride of their children.

Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—

how much worse lying lips to a ruler!^l

A bribe is seen as a charm by those who give it;

they think success will come at every turn.^m

Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,ⁿ

but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.^o

A rebuke impresses a discerning person

more than a hundred lashes a fool.

Evildoers foster rebellion against God;

the messenger of death will be sent against them.

Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs

than a fool bent on folly.^p

Evil will never leave the house

of one who pays back evil^q for good.^r

Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;

so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.^s

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent^t—

the Lord detests them both.^u

Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,

when they are not able to understand it?^v

A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for a time of adversity.^w

One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge

and puts up security for a neighbor.^x

Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;

whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;

one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.

To have a fool for a child brings grief;

there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.^y

A cheerful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed^z spirit dries up the bones.^a

The wicked accept bribes^b in secret

to pervert the course of justice.^c

A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,

but a fool’s eyes^d wander to the ends of the earth.

Foolish children bring grief to their father

and bitterness to the mother who bore them.^e

If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,^f

surely to flog honest officials is not right.

Those who have knowledge use words with restraint,^g

and those who have understanding are even-tempered.^h

Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,

and discerning if they hold their tongues.ⁱ